Folding chair



A. S. STOKBY FOLDING CHAIR June 27, 1933.

Filed Dec. 2, 1950 Svwenioz Patented June 27 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE AXEL STEEN STOKBY, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T LIIDO FOLDING- nn's'r COMPANY, 1110., on NEW YORK,

N. Y A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FOLDING CHAIR Application filed December 2, 1930. Serial No. 499,445.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and particularly to folding chairs adapted for use on beaches, lawns and the like.

,The invention has for its object generally an improved chair of the character indicated which is durable, efficient, can be readily folded into a compact package andis readily and cheaply manufactured.

More specifically it is an object to provide a foldable frame for chairs of the character indicated which may be completely collapsed and folded on itself, but when set up is rigid and is self-locking so that there is no danger of collapsing when in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of ele- 7 ments, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claim.

For a fuller understanding of the nature '25 and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one i form of folding chair embodying the invention- Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified form of collapsible frame which may be employed in the practice of the inveni tion; 7

Fig. 3 shows .a folding chair of the character indicated in Fig. 1, provided with a can- 0 .V; F'ig. 4 is a perspective view showing the frame of the chair when collapsed; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the frame Wrapped in the chair covering ready for transport.

Referring now the drawing and particu- .45 larly to Fig. 1,10 denotes generally the frame of the chair which as shown when set up is generally rectangular in shape and is composed of articulated members or mechanical links which are relatively rigid and may be 5 madeof any suitable material, for example ly connected to the main frame.

of wood, metal or tubing. The frame is so artlculated that it may be readily collapsed, but when extended and set up on the ground 1n the position shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to support a flexible cover 11 which may be 155 of canvas or other suitable sheet material in order to provide a chair or reclining support for the beach or lawn.

In accordance with the present invention, the frame of the chair is articulated, so that it may be collapsed in two stages, the first of which involves the folding together of two portions of the frame like the leaves of a book, while the second stage involves folding lnwardly upon the frame members the upstanding portions which remain after the first stage of folding is completed. To this end, the rectangular frame shown in Fig. 1 comprlses side members 12, to which connectlng members 16 are attached at their ends by hinges shown at 17. Each of the side menibers has intermediate hinges 15 whose axes are at right angles to the axes of the hinges 17. The side members 12 are thus seen to comprise two portions 13 and 14 which are 575 preferably of the same length. Also it is preferable to dispose the hinges both at 15 and 17 at one edge of the end portions of the members, so that when opened fully to the straight line position, the end portions abut 559 so as to block further opening movement. By placing the hinges at 15 on the front side of the frame, it is seen that the stresses imposed when in use, cause the upper portion of the frame to be biased in open position,

thereby avoiding the danger of collapse while in use. 1

The chair frame thus provided is adapted .to be used with one side resting on the ground and supported in an inclined position. Supporting means are associated with the frame, which in the form shown inFig. 1, comprise an auxiliary frame-portion hinged- Here, members 18 are hingedly connected to the memx4 bers 14.with hinges parallel to those at 15. A ground reacting member 19 is hingedly connected to the lower ends of members 18. Theauxiliary frame in this construction is thus similar to the upper portion of the main 1.0

frame, so that when folded together in the" on the beaches, or when on the ground;

When the cover 11, has been removed and the frame collapsed tothe position shown in Fig. 4, it may then be used as a wrapper for the frame. To this end the frame when collapsed is laid on one end'of the cover while spread out flat. It is then rolled into the package shown in Fig. 5. In order that the cover may remain securely in this wrapped position, it preferably has snap-fasteners'positioned as shown at 32; These fasteners 32 or other convenient fasteners may be used to attach the cover to the member 16 when the back rest is in use.

In Figure 2 is shown a modified construction which differs from that shown in Figure 1, mainly in that the front side members 21, 21, are of a rigid construction, whereas the connecting members 22, and 23, are at the top and bottom respectively and have intermediate hinges at 24:, their ends being hinged A folding back rest, comprising a collapsible rectangular main frame consisting of connecting members and side members, each of said side members being divided into two portions by a hinge, hinges at the ends of said 7 connecting members, joining said connecting members to said side members and having axes at right angles to the axes of said firstmentioned hinges, supporting means, and hinges connecting said supporting means to said side members and adjacent to and having axes parallel with said first-mentioned hinges, whereby said side portions and said supporting means are triple elements of a compound hinge.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York this 22nd day of November AD. 1930.

7 AXEL STEEN STOKBY.

with axes at right angles to the intermediate soft ground, when the device is set up for'use.

A cover similar to that shown in Figure 1,

complete the device,

'VVheneve'r desired the said device may be provided with a canopy, as shown at 28 in Figure 3. Here the canopy is supported on another auxiliary frame, which is hinged at the'side to the front side members, as shown at 29 The axes of these hinges are so disposed that the canopy may be made to collapse is attached to said frame in Figure 2, to

at the front 30, or at the side 31, according 7 to the position of the hinges for folding the 55 device together;

It is obvious that the present invention is not strictly limited to the form'of construction shown herein, but applicant reserves the right to make all suchminor changes and modifications that may be well within the scope of thisinvention and the appended claim. 1 Having thus described my invention, what l claim asnewanddesire to secure by Letters i i 5 Patent of the United States; is: 

